The Institute (協会)

Northwestern College!! Thanks For Letting Me Rant To You Guys

(I spoke in this room)

On Friday I have the privilege and honor of speaking in chapel at Northwestern College a wonderful Christian liberal arts college in St. Paul, MN. I'm still on my "salt-as-fertilizer-not-preservative-tour"!! I'm not sure how many people were there but the auditorium holds about 1500 students and most of the seats had bodies in them (maybe 1100-1200 or so?).

I was met at the airport by a senior student named Brett who was very, very sharp. Wow, what a clear understanding of the teachings of Jesus. If he's the kind of student the school produces I would definitely encourage families to send their kids to Northwestern. Brett totally gets that men are made for mission and to serve the priorities of the Kingdom. Great guy!!

The rest of my time there was memorable for sure. I knew very little about the school before a couple of years ago and if I have more money I'd become a major donor.

I could tell by the energy level in the room that you all have GREAT community there. WOW!!

To all of my new Northwestern Eagle friends,

You guys were an absolutely wonderful audience. I could feel your passion and enthusiasm for the Truth. Thanks for the interaction and special thanks for the dude that gave me his t-shirt!! So cool.

And for you students who came up to me afterwards to encourage me and ask questions, that was totally awesome. I felt really loved and cared for by that gesture. I love the way you guys were thinking about the implications of what Jesus is teaching us.

And to the guys that met with for the "guys only" lunch to talk about men's issues, thanks for a GREAT conversation about the masculinity crisis in American Christianity today. For you guys who work in the residential life, the administrators in the meeting are your allies in providing a context to help a lot of guys. I don't think most Christian schools have administrators that "get it" like these guys do.

I was VERY encouraged by the oneness in spirit we shared about the needs of men on your campus (and for college-age men in the church, in general) and what kinds of things are needed to move forward. It was good for me to hear about what your work is like "in the trenches" on your campus. Consider me "all in." I think you guys are ahead of the curve for Christian colleges on this issue.

For example, your community is so on top of this that I randomly picked up your school newspaper, The Column, and saw that a student named Jeremiah Scheumann penned a powerful column titled, "The Church Needs To Grow Men." Scheumann correctly nails the problem of passivity and tells the story of nearly every guys that grows up in the church, "Growing up, I never was exhorted to become a man. I frankly did not know what defined a man." Of course Jeremiah had no clue about his masculinity--evangelicals don't typically form boys into men in communities of men. Jeremiah, please go to seminary!! (haha). Wow, this school's on point, folks!! There is nothing better for women on your campus, and for campus life in general, than to have a community of initiated, healed, and missional men!

I left after the lunch with you guys very encouraged by your desire to help the men on your campus. Let me know how I can help out in the future. I'm just an hour away (by plane)!

And special thanks to all the administrators, staff, and faculty who conspired (haha) to get me to come visit and for providing wonderful hospitality. It took a couple of years but I finally got out there and it was worth the wait!!

Overall, thanks to everyone. I loved my time there!

BTW, friends, I was just kidding about Wisconsin people today in chapel:)! I'm sure the people there are great (haha)!

For the Father,

Anthony

Washington Post Reviews Jubilee Conference

By Michael Gerson
Wednesday, February 27, 2008; Page A17

I have seen the future of evangelical Christianity, and it is pierced. And sometimes tattooed. And often has one of those annoying, wispy chin beards.

Those who think of evangelical youths as the training cadre of the religious right would have been shocked at Jubilee 2008, a recent conference of 2,000 college students in Pittsburgh sponsored by the Coalition for Christian Outreach. I was struck by the students' aggressive idealism -- there were booths promoting causes from women's rights to the fight against modern slavery to environmental protection.

Here's the full review at the Washington Post.

I'm serious folks, I think CCO may be America's leading college ministry. You're not going to find students being discipled this way with a distinctively missional Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration theology anywhere in the country.

Carbon Neutral Campus

For a larger view, go here.

"Carbon Neutral U"

In the age of global warming, the greening of the American college campus is a largely grassroots effort driven by students, faculty, and in-house staff dedicated to sustainable thinking.

By Andrew Blum
Posted February 20, 2008
Metropolis Magazine

In late 2005 Yale University president Richard Levin exercised the considerable prerogative of his office and announced that his institution—with its 5,500 residents, 21,000 commuters, and 1.7 million square feet of office space—would slash its greenhouse-gas emissions. His chosen target seemed attainable enough: a 43 percent reduction by 2020, which would bring the university ten percent below 1990 levels, thereby exceeding Kyoto Protocol goals. More than two years later Yale’s carbon graph is a beautiful site in an otherwise Sisyphean struggle.

The university has already cut emissions 17 percent, with projects under way expected to cut another 17 percent by 2009—putting Yale a decade ahead of schedule in reaching its target. The even better news is that Yale is far from alone among universities: nearly 500 schools have signed the American College & University Presidents Cli­mate Commitment, which sets them toward climate neu­trality by a specified date (although it’s toothier than it sounds).

Aight dudes, what's your school doing, if anything, to slash its greenhouse emissions and/or intentionally pursue sustainability in its building infrastructure? How many LEED-oriented buildings on your campus? If not any, why? Go ask.

Are the new buildings on your campus built with any green building principles in mind?

If your school teaches about the need for caring for the environment but is not looking to put those principles into practice in the use and construction of its own buildings, I think you would be justified in asking some questions. If your school is a religious school your administration may likely be clueless about building green and non-religious institutions may be in the same boat as well (or they may not even care). Who knows?

Ask questions.

Obama Ben Laden

The Clinton campaign alleges that they had nothing to do with this picture surfacing.

Photo of Obama With Turban Causes Stir

By JIM KUHNHENN
Posted: 2008-02-25 21:58

WASHINGTON (Feb. 25) - A photograph circulating on the Internet of Democratic Sen. Barack Obama dressed in traditional local garments during a visit to Kenya in 2006 is causing a dustup in the presidential campaign over what constitutes a smear.

In a controversy over what may or may not be a smear tactic, campaign managers for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are arguing over a photo of the Illinois senator that's making the Internet rounds. The picture of Obama, above, shows him wearing traditional garments in Wajir, Kenya, during his trip to his father's homeland in 2006.

The Associated Press photograph portrays Obama wearing a white turban and a wraparound white robe presented to him by elders in Wajir, in northeastern Kenya. Obama's estranged late father was Kenyan and Obama visited the country in 2006, attracting thousands of well-wishers.

The gossip and news Web site The Drudge Report posted the photograph Monday and said it was being circulated by "Clinton staffers" and quoted an e-mail from an unidentified campaign aide. Drudge did not include proof of the e-mail in the report.

"I just want to make it very clear that we were not aware of it, the campaign didn't sanction it and don't know anything about it," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a teleconference with reporters. "None of us have seen the e-mail in question. If anybody has independent reporting that they've done on it I would welcome it."

Suuuuuuuuuuuure, Hilary. You had no idea?

Fellas, thoughts?

Crazy: Mom Gets Son To Assist In Murdering Ex-Lover

By BETH WARREN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/20/08

An Atlanta mother and her 22-year-old son charged with teaming up in one of Fulton County's most brutal homicides in recent years could learn their fate in court Friday.

Prosecutors say Jabaris Miller felt neglected by his mother, Tonya, who was often out partying or with her lesbian lover. So when the girlfriend, Cheryl Miranda, dumped his mom, Jabaris helped his mother murder her ex, says Fulton prosecutor Clint Rucker.

"In a twisted kind of way, the murder brought them together," said Rucker, who is fighting to send the mother and son to prison for the rest of their lives. Miller, of Tampa, and his mother opted not to testify during the two-week trial. Through their attorneys, both insist they liked the victim and had nothing to do with her death. Jurors bgan deliberations Thursday.

The victim, a Vietnam veteran who also lived in Tampa, told a friend on Feb. 27, 2005 that she was going to drive Tonya and Jabaris Miller, then 20, to Georgia on her way to Alabama, where she was going to start a new life. Miranda was never heard from again.

This is crazy! The mother and son were soon sentenced to life in prison. There are so many things going on this story--generational fatherlessness, overmothering, same-sex stuff, murder, etc. The son felt neglected by his mother and so he traded off a life for some attention. Crazy. This is fodder for a really twisted and sad movie.

Boooooooooooo, Clinton

From the Atlanta-Journal Consitution

Hillary Rodham Clinton accused presidential rival Barack Obama of political plagiarism Thursday night, but drew boos from a Democratic debate audience when she ridiculed him as the candidate of "change you can Xerox."

Obama dismissed the charge out of hand, then turned the jeers to applause when he countered, "What we shouldn't be doing is tearing each other down, we should be lifting the country up."

The exchange marked an unusually pointed moment in an otherwise civil encounter in the days before March 4 primaries in Texas and Ohio -- contests that even some of Clinton's supporters say she must win to sustain her campaign for the White House.

The former first lady has lost 11 straight primaries and caucuses, and trails her rival in convention delegates. Obama has won a pair of big union endorsements in the past two days.

The audience should have booed Clinton. Since it seems that fewer and fewer Democrats want her to represent their party against McCain, she's just trying to tear the dude down. How pathetic is that?

Texas Democrats, do the right thing (haha). Clinton's lost 11 in a row and Texas and Ohio can make it 12 and 13.

COME ON TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!

If Clinton wins the nomination because of "superdelegates" there may be riots.

Fellas, thoughts?

Jubilee Breakout Sessions--Cultivating Imagination for Living Missionally

The breakout sessions at the Jubilee conference demonstrate the best in what the story of creation-fall-redemption-restoration (CFRR) invites college students into--a life characterized by mission, not living for comfort and ease. Because "the Kingdom" is not wrongly equated with "the Church" the organizers at the conference compiled a wonderful list of options for students to attend. If you take CFRR seriously you don't want to just engage a broken world you actually understand that God has raised up the church to send people out as agents of transformation, restoration, redemption. True agents of spreading shalom.

Here's just a sample:

**"Identity Matters: The True Voice of Culture, The Truth of God"--this was a challenging seminar to orient students towards their identity in Christ as the basis for understanding everything else about their redemptive role in the CFRR story.

**"What We Can Learn from African Christianity"--because Christianity now has it's largest synergy in Africa and Asia, it's VITAL for college students to see that Christianity is not about the American church but the global manifestation of world-wide community of believers being led today primarily by Africans (and others Asians, and Latin Americans). I really wish I could have attended this one. So much to learn!!!

**"UnChristian--Christianity's Image Problem...and Why it Matters"--this session explored the implications of the book UnChristian and gave challenging pictures of how the unchurched view Christian from the relationships they have with people in the church.

**"Living Out Faith: One Well at a Time"--the folks from Blood:Water Mission were there to help students see that they can participate in restoring clean water and clean blood to areas of Africa burdened by the HIV/AIDS crisis, drought, unclear water, etc.

**"Caring For God's Creation: How to Involve Your Campus In Environmental Stewardship"--As the title suggests, students are encouraged to be transformers of culture in their campuses and lead NOW because their role in the CFRR narrative begins NOW; and because Christians are on campuses, not for themselves, but to bring shalom to the campus NOW--to be agents of redemption on the campus NOW--not to withdraw only to create an alternative society.

**"Seek Justice, Rescue the Oppressed"--The folks from IJM were down to do their thing helping students see that their vocations can be instruments of justice and can be used to fight for human rights around the world.

**"Sabbath-keeping for Dummies: Sabbath Rest, Recreation, and Re-creation"

**"'It's the Culture Stupid!' Making a Difference in the Culture Industries (Media, Art, and Entertainment)"

**"Loving Homosexuals As Jesus Would"--Chad Thompson tells his own story and teaches student to positively bring Truth to the gay community in with love, respect, and dignity.

**"Developing World Design"--for engineers and architects who want to be transformers and redeemers of culture.

**Various "Africana" and "Latino" sessions for those groups to explore the dimension of living CFRR as minorities in a Anglo-dominated culture and specific nuances of CFRR within their respective communities. I went to one combined "Africana/Latino" session that also had a surprising number of Anglos who are burdened about the struggle living in the dominant culture and to address issues unique to their respective communities.

These are just a few. There were also sessions on discerning the future, sexuality and relationships, philosophical trends, transforming education, art and imagination, Christianity and science, transforming law and medicine, careers in professional athletics, politics and ethics, and more.

As I mentioned earlier, this is the best synthesis of introducing students to the various dimensions of loving God and loving neighbor, orthodoxy and orthopraxis, church and kingdom, piety, social justice, and redemptive mission all within the context of creation-fall-redemption-restoration.

I especially love that Jubilee demonstrates that the Gospel applies to every area of life in the topics of the seminars, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. Every area--from you identity in Christ to HIV/AIDS and environment. Forgive me for being biased but it seems cultivating a Christian-world-and-life view is the best holistic understanding of what it means to be world Christian.

This is the conference to take the college students in your churches to if you want to them see the cosmic implications of the Gospel and work of the church in world.

And for you Pharisee-types who are thinking, "social gospel," you-got-the-wrong-conference. There some mainline conferences I could point you to for that.

Fellas, I think I'm gonna to create a section again for missional college ministries on this blog (from churches or parachurch groups) so if you know of any or know of any conferences that take CFRR to mission on the college campus, and later vocationally, send me the links I'll list them--especially, if there are any conferences coming up. I don't think CCO is only group doing this, and I'm kind'a out of the college ministry loop, so any info. any of you can give would be great as I develop and new learning curve in this area. I have no idea about all that's out there!

Thank You Jubilee College Students--Yours Is The Model College Conference

Fellas, I just returned from the most impressive and awesome college conference I've ever seen. It's the only conference I know that combines the Biblical narrative of creation-fall-redemption-restoration and living missionally of any college ministry currently embedded on several college campuses. It's called Jubilee and it's sponsored by the Coalition for Christian Outreach (an organization that takes creation-fall-redemption-restoration seriously). This was my first time, but, Lord willing, it will not be my last.

I spoke to an audience, of about 2,000, of the coolest, missionally-minded college students in America. I'm pretty sure this was my largest audience so far. Also key-note speaking were guys like Chuck Colson, Donald Miller, and so on. I was honored. Truly honored.

Asians, Blacks, Latinos, Whites, and interracial combinations of all four, meeting together for a weekend to talk about the implications of the the narrative of creation-fall-redemption-restoration for life in this world right now, today. This is unprecedented!!!

They get it: creation-fall-redemption-restoration, mission! A passion for piety and the redemption of all of creation. A desire for personal righteousness AND a desire to fight against evil and social injustice--to be true redeemers of culture. For example, Gary Haugen from International Justice Mission spoke there last year and in the months following 16 new IJM chapters were started on campuses all over the Northeast. What???

Another example, these college students actually cheered when I said that living for comfort and ease was "pathetic." Cheered?!! What??!!

So,

To all my new friends at the 2008 Jubilee Conference,

Thank you so much for being a huge blessing to me over the weekend!! Your passion for Christ and the work of Kingdom makes your CCO chapters the model for other campus ministries around America to follow. Someone needs to write a book about what you're doing. Thanks for the encouraging words after my Friday night talk. It was a pleasure hanging out with all you all between sessions, in the hallways, stair wells, etc. You infused life in me in ways that will take me weeks to unpack.

I've never been around college students willing to spit in the face of American-Dream-theology because you're embracing the implications of creation-fall-redemption-restoration.

Jubilee 2008, if I could speak to you guys every weekend for the rest of this year and get more time to hang out and talk to you guys about life "stuff," I'd die a happy man. Lots of passion and energy! Wonderful.

To all the 70ish of you fellas who attended my mens-only, Saturday morning breakout session on "Transforming Male Sexuality," thank you for your profound courage and being honest about the real things that men battle with every day. The room was packed. Many of you had to sit on the floor. And you profoundly blessed me by just showing up to fight for each other. You guys are showing real leadership that is absent in the church today.

Your honesty, men, is valiant. Most men in the church do not have the fortitude to talk about the stuff we did this weekend. Again, I'm sorry that most of you are surrounded by older men who are cowards and will not be honest with you about the good sexuality that God designed for you; and that your sexuality is to be used for good. I'm sorry that men in the church and your fathers are too cowardly to let you know what they face as well. I'm sorry. For the 8 or so of you who stayed after, and talked for another one-and-a-half, I'll never forget your candidness and your desire to be Godly men. It's rare to be around college guys who are as mature and authentic as you guys were with me.

Honestly, fellas, after our morning session together I wept a couple of times for you guys because I know that many of you have no one to talk to; and because the men in your life totally dropped to ball on this one many of you a left walking into a blazing fire never being taught how to fight it. You've been abandoned and are alone to figure this stuff out by yourselves and for that, I am grieved.

A mis hermanos and bruthas and sistas in the Africana/Latino fellowship at Jubilee your presence makes the conference prodigious. There is no other college ministry in America bringing creation-fall-redemption-restoration to as many minority students as CCO. I wish I would have been able to spend more time with all of you. Cuidate!!

Overall, the 2,000 of you who came this year, know that you changed my life this weekend! I'm forever indebted. Thanks again for letting speak openly with you. May the Lord bless you and keep you all!!

Facebook me!!

And finally, many, many thanks to the Jubilee staff for putting on an amazing, visionary conference and for taking GREAT care of me! I was profoundly blessed by your hospitality and care. Thanks for letting me come! You guys are doing amazing work.

Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO)!! Wow, you're America's best kept college secret. What you're doing needs to be regionally multiplied across America, yesterday! The way you all partner with local churches is inspiring and represents mature, Biblical ecclesiology. I'm indebted and am committed to what you're doing. I'm MORE THAN WILLING to help you guys out in the future. Do not hesitate to ask!

For the Kingdom,

Anthony

Jubilee college students the Kingdom desperately needs you alive and free!! May God make you contagious!!

The Josh Moyer Band At Jubilee

The Josh Moyer Band provided the music for Jubilee this year. I'm speechless.

Josh Moyer is standing on my right. This was some of the most amazing music I've ever heard. All the musicians were absolutely amazing. They could really, really throw down some funk too! I mean, 70s lounge style funk. The drummer (the black dude on the far left) plays like the dude from the Dave Matthews Band. All the fellas had prodigious skills.

All the band members that played aren't pictured above. There were also VERY talented backup singers (one white, one black), and keyboard players (more races). It was an awesome scene. On stage was a wonderful blend of cultural and community backgrounds. Imagine that, a college conference with musicians from a multiplicity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Rare (except for InterVarsity).

Looking around the room, the fellas really dug the funky stuff for sho'!!

I'll do anything to get these guys to St. Louis!

175 Comments On Interracial Marriage

Fellas, over at World Magazine I posted an opinion noting that interracial marriages are good. I also highlighted the fact that Southern conservative Christians are among the most resistant to interracial marriages. I know a couple guys that got fired because they affirmed interracial marriages from the pulpit. Oops!

Here's the link.

Read the thread and you'll understand why conservative evangelicalism will never have many blacks. Lots of racist views (in the name of Jesus). There are too many churchy people who remain racist, supporting their positions in Scripture, and cowards who refuse do anything about it. There are 175 comments so far.

Many of the comments are so racist that the site manager had to warn people.

Also, I made mention of the fact that all this "racial reconciliation" talk is merely cosmetic and we won't see any real change until people start intermarrying. Do we need another conference about it?

Cheating Spouses

I don't understand why people cheat. The simple answer is sin. I know. Blah, blah. But what's the psychology behind it?

I know several people in my circle of friends who are cheating on their spouses. Some Christian, some not. For example, on the weekends, I see this woman I know out with her boyfriend. I don't know what to do. I wonder if her husband knows. They're not churchy people so I don't know what to do. I've got some churchy people I know around the country whose wives are talking to other dudes. I just don't understand it.

A Beagle Wins Westminster?????

Fellas, I can't believe a Beagle won "Best of Show" at the Westminster Kennel Club competition this year. I didn't watch it this year (I went several years without missing the competition) but I would love to see how this dog won. Very strange. Here's the story.

NEW YORK (AP) -- America has a new Snoop doggie. Uno the beagle wins best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. Barking and baying up a storm, Uno lived up to his name Tuesday night by becoming the first beagle to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. The nation's new top dog was clearly the fan favorite and drew a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden when he was picked. Uno got right into the act, jumping up on handler Aaron Wilkerson and confirming his other title: noisiest in show. Years from now, he'll be known for the "ah-roo" heard 'round the ring.

Story Highlights
# Uno is first beagle to win best in show at Westminster Kennel Club
# Uno also wins unofficial title of noisiest dog at famous show
# Uno beats 2 poodles, Sealyham terrier, Weimaraner, Australian shepherd, Akita
# Uno is 15-inch beagle, 3 years old, from Missouri

Maybe I'll get to see him in person someday.

A Beagle????

See Ya Mike?

Why is Huckabee still spending money campaigning? Can any of you guys help me understand why he's still running ads, giving speeches, etc?

One of the Many Ways To Escort Men Out of Evangelical Churches In America

Music that sounds like prom songs. Does South Park help us see the problem? I was recently contacted by a leader of one the largest campus ministries in America about the absence of men in their ministries so I'm writing and thinking about some things to get ready for an essay I'm going to write to help this guy connect some dots. It's seems that lots of people are beginning to ask, "where are the men?" At a youth group I speak at a lot, on Sundays, the average girl/guy ratio is 2 to 1.

At any rate, here's a guaranteed way to make sure that, over time, your evangelical church or ministry in America (especially high school and college) will have less and less men:

Take an old hymn and ruin it musically but setting the words to a Simon and Garfunkle sound--especially adding things like wood flutes and mandolins. Make the sure the lead singer has a soft, nasally, whispering voice. Do this friends, and you'll eventually have an audience of mostly women. High school and college guys, I'm sorry that many of you are being subjected to constant high-pitched, upper-ranged music.

Or one could do what modern musicians have done throughout the ages (I think): produce music for their current context--the one in which people live during the time the music was produced. This is why we don't sing music from the early or medieval church eras, or sing in Greek or Aramaic. Hmm. Remakes (or re-setting) can be done well but it's rare. It's not "bad" but many people wonder if it can be done in a way that makes sense for our culture today. Whatever happened to creativity and imagination, some ask?

Many argue that we need new music in addition to the old--and simply re-setting the old lyrics to Simon and Garfunkle may not represent the best way to actually connect with the current context in which a church finds herself. Some stuff was written with an organ in mind and maybe should remain as such. Maybe we need a pipe organ revolution. Very, loud ones too that shake buildings!!

For more on this see the chapter "Worship and the Masculine Spirit" in David Murrow's book, Why Men Hate Going To Church and "Can A Man Be A Christian" in Leon Podles' book The Church Impotent.

(Mandolin)

Keep reading, there's some stuff from South Park below:

South Park has a blasphemous episode about Christian music today that I think offers a challenging critique (the episode is Christian Rock Hard"). I hope those guys repent before they die otherwise there will be a fire for them that's turned on "high."

Cartman says this about how to write Christian music:

"All right, guys, this is gonna be so easy. All we have to do to make Christian songs is take regular old songs and add Jesus stuff to them. See? All we have to do is cross out words like "baby" and "Darling" and replace them with Jesus. All right, Butters, give me a beat. Okay, nice. Very nice. All right, Token, give me a smooth bass line."

Lyrics:

Don't ever leave me, Jesus. I couldn't stand to see you go. My heart would simply snap, my Lord, if you walked on out that door. I promise I'll be good to you, and keep you warm at night.

Fellas, it's hard to argue with this critique. Very hard.

Haha!!

I got this from a friend in Japan. Haha!

Why Shaq?

From ESPN:

PHOENIX -- Shaquille O'Neal had strong words for those who doubt he can fit in with the Phoenix Suns.

"I'm very upset," he said Thursday at his introduction news conference. "You just don't really want to get me upset. When I'm upset, I'm known to do certain things -- like win championships."

O'Neal, once the game's dominant big man but now slowed by a hip injury, said he is motivated by the negative talk.

"This team has always been there in the Western Conference," he said. "They just couldn't quite get over the hump. I think with my experience and my on the court-off the court leadership, I can help them get over the hump."

Get over the hump? Shaq, you are a hump, old man (i.e., I think he needs to retire soon). Maybe he sees this as his last gig? On average, he's scoring 14 points per game. I'm not sure he's worth the money.

Can someone explain what this trade was all about and why the Suns would even want Shaq? It's not like he's 25 and very expensive. I don't get it.

The trade required a significant financial commitment from budget-conscious owner Robert Sarver because O'Neal is scheduled to make $20 million this season and $20 million more each of the next two.

Murders At Suburban St. Louis City Council Meeting

KIRKWOOD, Missouri (CNN) --

A gunman killed five people and wounded two Thursday night at a police station and City Council meeting in suburban St. Louis before officers shot and killed him, police said. Two police officers were among the dead, said Tracy Panus, spokeswoman for the St. Louis County police.

"We have what we believe to be our suspect," Panus said. "There's no reason for the Kirkwood residents to feel unsafe at this point."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the dead included Councilwoman Connie Karr, Public Works Director Kenneth Yost and police officers Tom Ballman and William Biggs.

Mayor Mike Swoboda was wounded and in critical condition, and Suburban Journals newspaper reporter Todd Smith was in satisfactory condition, St. John's Mercy Hospital spokesman Bill McShane told The Associated Press.

Wow. He's been a problem for a while. I wish they had banned him from coming to city council meetings.

Cradle To Cradle--BUY THIS BOOK

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things
by William McDonough, Michael Braungart

Fellas, get this book. Cradle To Cradle is at Amazon.com

Here's what the books about:

"Reduce, reuse, recycle" urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. As William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in their provocative, visionary book, however, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world, they ask.

In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are).

Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, the authors make an exciting and viable case for change.

What's most pathetic to me is that I only know two churchy people who have a clue about this stuff that I can actually dialog with about these issues. Two (Brian and Shawn).

These issues are not even on the radars of people in the church (regardless of race and class). Why? Why aren't people talking about this stuff?

Even worse, those churchy people who say they are concerned about these issues (i.e., the environment) don't have a clue about economics or the details involved and depend on the rhetorical emptiness special interest groups to make arguments (i.e., posers who don't actually study and research the contingent tensions--especially the economic ones). Wierd, ain't it. I'm at a point now where that I'll not even engage people on this stuff if they don't understand economics. Otherwise, you're often talking to the winds of emotions instead of actual facts and reality.

Should America Care About Britney Spears?

From MTV News:

Britney Spears' parents expressed shock that their daughter was released from a Los Angeles psychiatric hospital on Wednesday, against the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist.

The Associated Press reports that Spears' father, Jamie, who was named as his daughter's conservator on Monday, was also against the release, and in a joint statement released Wednesday with ex-wife Lynne Spears, the couple said they were "extremely disappointed" to learn that their 26-year-old daughter had been allowed out. Britney had been placed under a 14-day hold at the hospital, under which she could not be released unless she legally demanded it or her doctor deemed her ready for outpatient treatment.

Sigh.

Colbert, Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien Huckabee Fued--Watch This

this is hilarious!!

Watch it here.

McCain??? You're Kidding Me?

McCain leads. Translation: the Republican party is now officially defunct.

From CNN:

Sen. John McCain awoke Wednesday with a commanding lead in the race for Republican delegates while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney plans to meet with aides after a disappointing Super Tuesday showing. "We are the Republican Party front-runner," said Sen. John McCain, "and I don't really mind it one bit."

Ann Coulter says she'd support Clinton over McCain. "John McCain is not only bad for Republicanism, which he definitely is — he is bad for the country," she said.

If it's Obama vs. McCain, I might have to go with the half-African dude. I dunno. I don't get the McCain thing at all.

How's the Constitutional Party guy doing?

15-Year-Old Suburban Baltimore Teen Kills Parents And Brothers

From WBAL TV Baltimore and the Baltimore Sun:

COCKEYSVILLE, Md. -- Baltimore County police have charged a 15-year-old boy with four counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his parents and his two younger brothers. Meanwhile, members of a quiet suburb are in mourning.

Nicholas Waggoner Browning has been charged as an adult in the slayings of his father, John Browning (an attorney), 45; his mother Tamara, 44; and his brothers Gregory, 13, and Benjamin, 11. . .Nicholas Browning, a student at Dulaney High School, had a disagreement with his father and used his father's handgun to kill his family Friday night. . .

Browning, who will turn 16 on Saturday, was described as a class clown who took upper-level classes and had recently completed a prayer garden at Epworth United Methodist Church - a service project that put him one step away from becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting. . .

The teenager threw the gun into some bushes near the family's Cockeysville home and then spent Friday night and all day Saturday with friends, police said.

When dropped off at his house Saturday, Nicholas Browning went inside and came back out, telling his friends that his father was dead. But after detectives noted inconsistencies in his statements, the teen confessed to the crimes. . .

Fellas, what?? He shot his family and then went and hung out with friends? His mom, and his brothers? His brothers?? He got into a fight with his Dad. Why shoot everybody else?

I wonder what would have happened had there not been a gun in the house? Maybe the father and son would have just duked it out and punched some holes in the wall or something?

Obama Leads!!!

Obama, who trounced Clinton in January's South Carolina primary, garnered 49 percent of registered Democrats in Monday's poll, while Clinton trailed by just three points

According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Group poll, Obama is now leading Clinton by 3 points!! The democrats are wising up. In the boredom of the Republican race McCain (who would loose to Obama) is clearly leading. I don't get what the republicans see in the guy.

It's Black History Month

Nearly 3,500 blacks were lynched in America between 1860 and 1960. I would add James Byrd to that number in 1998. Why did lynching decrease over time? Because lynchings worked.

Lynchings created a culture of fear (it's still there among my parents' generation). To this day my parents cautiously travel to certain places in the South at night.

James Byrd, 1998, reminds me that driving alone at night in the Southeast and Southwest is still unwise.

It would have been cool if lynching and segregation would have had the same level of activism as abortion does today. I wonder why the southern churches were silent in speech and action (except for the Methodists) on this? Some have argued that white church goers did nothing because of (1) a deficient theology system and (2) there may not have been many Christians in south during those times. I have no idea. I wasn't around to ask church leaders why they said or did nothing.

This picture is a great summary of the black experience in America. What kind of people could watch this and laugh and smile.

February is Black History Month.

An Audacious Take On Obama, by Univ. of Missouri Sophomore

Michael Alexander, a sophomore business major (political science minor) at the University of Missouri, offer this perspective on Obama in his quest post here at the Institute. Mike's blog is here. Here are Michael's thoughts on Obama:

It’s difficult to sit back and listen to Big Media laud Barack Obama for his campaign of “change”. If an alien (from outer space, not the type that scampers across America's southern border to suck our social programs dry) turned on a TV today, it could legitimately come to the conclusion that Obama is an American messiah. Few critiques of Senator Obama can be heard or seen on major “news” networks or national newspapers. He is promoted by Oprah and others as an “agent of change;” a fresh perspective for Washington.

As many accolades as he receives, you might assume he really can change the way Washington runs. Then again, if you look at his record and his positions, you might see that he is the same as every other Democratic candidate in recent history.

Obama’s views are not new. They are not fresh. They are not Washington-changers. And they are surely not views that will facilitate bipartisanship between 1600 Pennsylvania and democrats and republicans on Capitol Hill.

Here’s a quick list of Obama’s views, see if you think these are issues republicans will work with after bipartisan talks. . .

[the rest is below]

He supports socialized health care (which will cost trillions to overhaul the current system and get everyone covered), he supports killing innocent unborn babies (liberals call this aborting a “pregnancy”), he will lower taxes on the middle class and then raise taxes on the wealthy (Robin Hood was a good movie, but that doesn’t work in actual government), he wants to increase the role of FDR’s outdated New Deal programs, he wants to raise the minimum wage (subsequently raising unemployment), he is pro-Big Labor, he’s anti-corporations, and he has voted to make it easier for individuals to file for bankruptcy.

Honestly, is that a list of stances that would facilitate success in bipartisan talks? Obama is not going to change the face of Washington. The media ignore the Congressional approval rating, of which he is a part, as they continually attack Bush for his low approval rating. This happens even though more Americans approve of President Bush than of the Democratically lead Congress. Obama should be held accountable for that (as should Clinton and McCain). When we get through all the political muck, it is absolutely obvious that Obama is only going to further the strife between the two parties. He is certainly no messiah.

--Michael Alexander, University of Missouri